New Delhi, June 3- As India awaits the return of all-party delegations sent by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to explain Operation Sindoor to the world, present India’s position and garner global support for its fight against terrorism, the question is whether the main opposition Congress has lost a good opportunity to pull down the BJP.
The all-party delegations are on their way home and PM Modi is expected to meet the members to applaud their efforts in presenting New Delhi’s views to the world— zero-tolerance for terrorism and the “new normal” against it.
The delegations comprise Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, senior political leaders and diplomats, and their meeting with the PM will also make excellent optics in favour of the BJP-led NDA government within the country
Senior Congress leaders, including Shashi Tharoor, Manish Tiwari, Anand Sharma are a part of the all-party delegations conveying India’s view point. In fact Tharoor’s speeches in particular have been the recipient of much attention and appreciation in international, national and diplomatic circles.
A section within the Congress believes that the party could have used this appreciation as a proof of the quality of its leaders and bench-strength in Parliament vis-à-vis the BJP.
“The fact that the Modi government had to call upon well-read and articulate Congress MPs to make the point to the world could have been used as an example of the party’s selection of candidates and their commitment to the national interest.
The Congress should have celebrated their achievement, basked under the attention they have drawn, taken credit for sending the right people to the Parliament and honoured them on the party platform. Internal politics could have been left for another day as this was the time to score against the BJP,” they say.
Tensions have been visible between Tharoor and Congress for a long time. But what seems to have really upset the party this time were his remarks on the 2016 surgical strikes.
His total support to the BJP-led Centre was seen as straying from the party line and he was openly checked by colleagues like Pawan Khera and Udit Raj, who also called him a “super spokesperson of the BJP”.
Tharoor, meanwhile, said he would speak to colleagues, critics and media once he returns.
The Congress may be upset with Tharoor but this was not the right time to show it, and at a time when other opposition parties are trying to showcase their leaders who represented India. By doing so the grand old party seems to have played right into the BJP’s hand, observers add.
